Information processing apparatus, method, and program for displaying an image during overdrag

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for modifying an image. The method comprises displaying an image, the image comprising a portion of an object; and determining if an edge of the object is in a location within the portion. The method further comprises detecting movement, in a member direction, of an operating member with respect to the edge. The method still further comprises moving, if the edge is not in the location, the object in an object direction corresponding to the detected movement; and modifying, if the edge is in the location, the image in response to the detected movement, the modified image comprising the edge in the location.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/403,665 (filed on Jan. 11, 2017), which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/242,129 (filed on Sep. 23, 2011 andissued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,619,135 on Apr. 11, 2017), which claimspriority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-228303 (filed on Oct.8, 2010), which are all hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus,an information processing method, and a program.

In recent years, a touch panel which can detect contact with anoperating object has been in widespread use. Since such a touch panelcan detect a position at which the operating object comes into contact,a user can perceive the position at which the operating object comesinto contact (for example, refer to JP 2010-157189A).

Further, a touch panel which can detect proximity of the operatingobject thereto has also been in widespread use. Since such a touch panelcan detect a position to which the operating object comes close, theuser can grasp the position to which the operating object comes close.

SUMMARY

However, in the case where the above-mentioned general touch panel wasused, there was an issue that it was difficult to grasp, in a stage inwhich an operation of moving a display object is performed, how far thedisplay object can be moved.

In light of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a novel andimproved technology which is capable of allowing the user to grasp, inthe stage in which the operation of moving the display object isperformed, how far the display object can be moved.

Accordingly, there is provided a method for modifying an image. Themethod comprises displaying an image, the image comprising a portion ofan object; and determining if an edge of the object is in a locationwithin the portion. The method further comprises detecting movement, ina member direction, of an operating member with respect to the edge. Themethod still further comprises moving, if the edge is not in thelocation, the object in an object direction corresponding to thedetected movement; and modifying, if the edge is in the location, theimage in response to the detected movement, the modified imagecomprising the edge in the location.

In a second aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readablemedium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer, performa method of modifying an image. The method comprises displaying animage, the image comprising a portion of an object; and determining ifan edge of the object is in a location within the portion. The methodfurther comprises detecting movement, in a member direction, of anoperating member with respect to the edge. The method still furthercomprises moving, if the edge is not in the location, the object in anobject direction corresponding to the detected movement; and modifying,if the edge is in the location, the image in response to the detectedmovement, the modified image comprising the edge in the location.

In a third aspect, there is provided an apparatus for modifying animage, comprising a memory and a processor executing instructions storedin the memory. The processor executes instructions stored in the memoryto display an image, the image comprising a portion of an object; anddetermine if an edge of the object is in a location within the portion.The processor further executes instructions stored in the memory todetect movement, in a member direction, of an operating member withrespect to the edge. The processor still further executes instructionsstored in the memory to move, if the edge is not in the location, theobject in an object direction corresponding to the detected movement;and modify, if the edge is in the location, the image in response to thedetected movement, the modified image comprising the edge in thelocation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an information processingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the informationprocessing apparatus according to the embodiment in a case where an edgeof a display object does not reach a display region at the end of aflick;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the informationprocessing apparatus according to the embodiment in a case where theedge of the display object reaches the display region at the end of theflick;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a hardware configuration diagram of the information processingapparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation performed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in a casewhere a flick operation is performed;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in a casewhere it is determined that the edge of the display object reaches thedisplay region;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by a generalinformation processing apparatus in a case where a movement operation isperformed at a stage in which an edge of a display object has alreadyreached a display region;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a case where the movement operation isperformed at the stage in which the edge of the display object hasalready reached the display region;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where a predetermined displayis shown and a case where a predetermined display is hidden by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation performed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in a casewhere a drag operation is performed;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at the stage in which the edgeof the display object has already reached the display region;

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment in the casewhere the movement operation is performed at a stage before the edge ofthe display object reaches the display region;

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a screen example (when a display object issmall) displayed by the information processing apparatus according tothe embodiment in the case where the movement operation is performed atthe stage in which the edge of the display object has already reachedthe display region;

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a screen example (when a display object issmall) displayed by the information processing apparatus according tothe embodiment in the case where the movement operation is performed atthe stage in which the edge of the display object has already reachedthe display region;

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment, obtainedby performing the movement operation before the edge of the displayobject reaches the display region and after the edge of the displayobject reached the display region;

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment, obtainedby performing the movement operation before the edge of the displayobject reaches the display region and after the edge of the displayobject reached the display region;

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment, obtainedby performing the movement operation after the edge of the displayobject reached the display region;

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment, obtainedby performing the movement operation after the edge of the displayobject reached the display region;

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating another example of the operation ofthe information processing apparatus according to the embodiment in thecase where the edge of the display object reaches the display region atthe end of the flick;

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating another example of the operation ofthe information processing apparatus according to the embodiment in thecase where the edge of the display object reaches the display region atthe end of the flick;

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating another example of the operation ofthe information processing apparatus according to the embodiment in thecase where the edge of the display object reaches the display region atthe end of the flick; and

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation (when the displayobject can be moved in the X-axis direction and in the Y-axis direction)performed by the information processing apparatus according to theembodiment in the case where the drag operation is performed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that,in this specification and the appended drawings, structural elementsthat have substantially the same function and structure are denoted withthe same reference numerals, and repeated explanation of thesestructural elements is omitted.

Further, the “detailed description of the embodiments” will be describedin the order shown below.

1. Embodiment

-   -   1-1. Outline of information processing apparatus    -   1-2. Case where edge of display object does not reach display        region at end of flick    -   1-3. Case where edge of display object reaches display region at        end of flick    -   1-4. Functional configuration of information processing        apparatus    -   1-5. Hardware configuration of information processing apparatus    -   1-6. Operation in case where flick operation is performed    -   1-7. Screen displayed by operation at stage in which edge of        display object reaches display region    -   1-8. Disabling operation at stage in which edge of display        object reaches display region    -   1-9. Direction of operation at stage in which edge of display        object reaches display region    -   1-10. Case of hiding displayed predetermined display    -   1-11. Operation performed in case where drag operation is        performed    -   1-12. Screen displayed by operation at stage in which edge of        display object reaches display region    -   1-13. Screen displayed by operation at stage before edge of        display object reaches display region    -   1-14. Screen displayed when display object is small    -   1-15. Screen displayed by operation before edge of display        object reaches display region and after edge of display object        reached display region    -   1-16. Screen displayed by operation after edge of display object        reached display region    -   1-17. Another example of case where edge of display object        reaches display region at end of flick    -   1-18. Operation in case where drag operation (in X- and Y-axis        directions) is performed

2. Modified example

3. Summary

<1. Embodiment>

[1-1. Outline of Information Processing Apparatus]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an information processingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shownin FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus 100A according to theembodiment of the present disclosure includes a display region 141. Onthe display region 141, a part of a display object DB1 is displayed bythe information processing apparatus 100A. Further, an informationprocessing apparatus 100B according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure displays a part (i.e., a portion) of a display object DB2 onthe display region 141.

Here, the display objects such as the display object DB1 and the displayobject DB2 each have an edge DT, and let us assume that that the edge DTrepresents the upper edge of each display object. In this case, when auser scrolls the display object in the downward direction, the edge DTeventually reaches the upper edge (i.e., a location) of the displayregion 141. After the edge DT reached the upper edge of the displayregion 141, the display object cannot be scrolled in the downwarddirection any farther.

The embodiment of the present disclosure enables the user to grasp, inthe stage in which the operation of moving the display object isperformed, how far the display object can be moved. In order to realizesuch a function, in the case of scrolling the display object in thedownward direction for example, the information processing apparatus 100according to the embodiment of the present disclosure reads a displayarea at a position proceeded a read-ahead distance PR in the upwarddirection from the upper edge of the display region 141. For example, inthe case of the display object DB1 displayed by the informationprocessing apparatus 100A on the display region 141, in which theposition obtained by proceeding the read-ahead distance PR in the upwarddirection from the upper edge of the display region 141 is below theedge DT (upper edge) of the display object DB1, the informationprocessing apparatus 100A may not notify the user that the edge DTnearly reaches the display region 141, because there is still some timefor the edge DT (upper edge) to reach the upper edge of the displayregion 141.

On the other hand, for example, in the case of the display object DB2displayed by the information processing apparatus 100I on the displayregion 141, in which the position obtained by proceeding the read-aheaddistance PR in the upward direction from the upper edge of the displayregion 141 is above the edge DT (upper edge) of the display object DB2,the information processing apparatus 100B notifies the user that theedge DT nearly reaches the display region 141, because the edge DT(upper edge) reaches the upper edge of the display region 141 after ashort time.

Note that, for an operation for causing the display object to bescrolled, there are assumed a flick operation, a drag operation, and thelike to a position detection device such as a touch panel, but it is notparticularly limited as to what kind of operation is performed to whathardware. It is necessary that the operation for scrolling the displayobject be at least an operation that a device can recognize thedirection in which the display object is to be moved. Further, in theembodiment of the present disclosure, the operation of moving thedisplay object is performed by the flick operation or the drag operationusing an operating object OP (i.e., an operating member). Further, itgoes without saying that the direction in which the display object isscrolled is not limited to the downward direction and may be the upwarddirection, the left direction, or the right direction.

[1-2. Case where Edge of Display Object does not Reach Display Region atEnd of Flick]

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure in a case where the edge of the display object does not reachthe display region at the end of the flick. As shown in FIG. 2, aninformation processing apparatus 100C causes a part of the displayobject DB1 to be displayed on the display region 141. When the flickoperation in the downward direction is performed by the operating objectOP in this state, it is assumed that the following corresponds to aregion DR1 that is displayed on the display region 141 at the end of theflick operation in theory: a region within the display object DB1obtained by proceeding the distance corresponding to the intensity(i.e., velocity) of the flick operation from the region displayed on thedisplay region 141 in the upward direction of the display object DB1.

As shown in FIG. 2, at the end of the flick, an information processingapparatus 100D causes the region DR1 that is displayed on the displayregion 141 to be displayed at the end of the flick in theory. In such acase, since the edge DT (upper edge) of the display object DB1 does notreach the upper edge of the display region 141, the movement of thedisplay object DB1 by the flick operation is performed at a firstacceleration, in a usual manner.

[1-3. Case where Edge of Display Object Reaches Display Region at End ofFlick]

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure in a case where the edge of the display object reaches thedisplay region at the end of the flick. As shown in FIG. 3, aninformation processing apparatus 100E causes a part of the displayobject DB1 to be displayed on the display region 141. When the flickoperation in the downward direction is performed by the operating objectOP in this state, it is assumed that the following corresponds to aregion DR2 that is displayed on the display region 141 at the end of theflick in theory: a region within the display object DB1 obtained byproceeding the distance corresponding to the intensity of the flickoperation from the region displayed on the display region 141 in theupward direction of the display object DB1.

As shown in FIG. 3, at the end of the flick, although an informationprocessing apparatus 100F attempts to cause the region DR2 to bedisplayed on the display region 141, which is to be displayed on thedisplay region 141 at the end of the flick in theory, the informationprocessing apparatus 100F cannot cause the region DR2 to be displayed,because the edge DT (upper edge) of the display object DB1 reaches theedge (upper edge) of the display region 141. In such a case, themovement of the display object DB1 is performed by reducing the movementvelocity, for example, by rapidly slowing down the movement of thedisplay object DB1 at a second acceleration.

[1-4. Functional Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a functional configuration of theinformation processing apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The information processing apparatus 100 accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure includes at least adetection section 110, a determination section 120, and a displaycontrol section 130.

The detection section 110 includes a position detection device 210, andhas a function of detecting a movement operation to the display objectperformed by the operating object OP. As described above, for example,the detection section 110 can detect the flick operation and the dragoperation performed by the operating object OP as the movement operationto the display object performed by the operating object OP. However, themovement operation performed by the operating object OP is not limitedthereto, and the movement operation may be an input to an input devicesuch as an arrow key or a joystick.

The determination section 120 has a function of determining, in the casewhere the display object is moved a predetermined distance in a movementdirection (i.e., an object direction) based on the movement operationdetected by the detection section 110, whether the edge DT of thedisplay object reaches the display region 141. In the case where themovement operation detected by the detection section 110 has a componentin a predetermined direction (i.e., a member direction) thedetermination section 120 adopts the predetermined direction as themovement direction. For example, in the case where the movementoperation is performed in an obliquely downward direction, thedetermination section 120 recognizes the movement direction based on themovement operation as the downward direction, and determines the case ofmoving the display object a predetermined distance in the downwarddirection.

The predetermined distance representing the distance which the displayobject is moved can be decided in advance, for example. In the exampledescribed above, for example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, it isdetermined by the determination section 120 that, in the case where thedisplay object DB1 is caused to be moved a predetermined distance in themovement direction (downward direction) based on the movement operation,the edge DT of the display object does not reach the display region 141.Further, for example, in the example shown in FIG. 3, it is determinedby the determination section 120 that, in the case where the displayobject DB1 is caused to be moved a predetermined distance in themovement direction (for example, downward direction) based on themovement operation, the edge DT of the display object reaches thedisplay region 141.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display control section 130 has a function ofperforming control such that the display object is moved in the movementdirection (for example, downward direction). At the same time, when itis determined by the determination section 120 that, in the case wherethe display object is caused to be moved a predetermined distance in themovement direction, the edge DT (for example, upper edge) of the displayobject reaches the display region 141, the display control section 130has a function of performing control such that a predetermined firstdisplay is shown on the display region 141. As for the predeterminedfirst display, there are assumed various displays, which will bedescribed in detail below.

The information processing apparatus 100 may further include a storagesection 150. The storage section 150 is configured from, for example, astorage device such as a non-volatile memory. The storage section 150has a function of storing a program for realizing the determinationsection 120, the display control section 130, a processing section 160,or the like, and a function of storing various types of data used whenthe program is executed, and the like. Further, the storage section 150can store various thresholds and the like.

The information processing apparatus 100 may further include a displaysection 140. The display section 140 is configured from, for example, adisplay device. The display section 140 includes the display region 141,and has a function of displaying the display object on the displayregion 141 based on the control of the display control section 130. Inthe example described with reference to FIG. 2, the display section 140is capable of displaying a part of the display object or the like on thedisplay region 141 based on the control of the display control section130.

The storage section 150 stores information about the edge DT of thedisplay object, for example. The information about the edge DT of thedisplay object represents information about distance from the edge DT ofthe display object to each display position on the display object, forexample. The determination section 120 can determine whether the edge DTof the display object reaches the display region 141, based on theinformation about the edge DT of the display object, a position of adisplay area currently being displayed on the display object, themovement direction, and the predetermined distance, for example.

Further, the storage section 150 may store the display object. In thatcase, the determination section 120 can acquire a display area of aposition obtained by going back the predetermined distance in adirection opposite to the movement direction on the basis of a positionof a display area currently being displayed on the display object, fromthe display object stored in the storage section 150. The determinationsection 120 can determine whether the edge DT of the display objectreaches the display region 141 based on the acquired display area. Inthe display area, there is set information about a distance from theedge DT of the display object to the display area on the display object,because whether the edge DT of the display object reaches the displayregion 141 can be determined based on the information about thedistance.

The information processing apparatus 100 may further include theprocessing section 160. The processing section 160 can executeprocessing corresponding to an item selected by the operating object OP,for example.

The information processing apparatus 100 may include a reception section170. The reception section 170 has a function of receiving informationabout the edge DT of the display object, for example. In that case, thedetermination section 120 can determine whether the edge DT of thedisplay object reaches the display region 141, based on the informationabout the edge DT of the display object, a position of a display areacurrently being displayed on the display object, the movement direction,and the predetermined distance. The information about the edge DT of thedisplay object can be received from a predetermined server via anetwork, for example.

The reception section 170 may receive a display area of a positionobtained by going back the predetermined distance in a directionopposite to the movement direction on the basis of a position of adisplay area currently being displayed on the display object. In thatcase, the determination section 120 can determine whether the edge DT ofthe display object reaches the display region 141 based on the displayarea received by the reception section 170. The display area can also bereceived from a predetermined server via a network, for example.

Further, as described with reference to FIG. 3, in the case where theedge of the display object reaches the display region at the end of aflick, the movement of the display object is performed by reducing themovement velocity, for example, by rapidly slowing down the movement ofthe display object. To be more specific, first, the determinationsection 120 further determines whether the movement operation detectedby the detection section 110 is the flick operation. In the case ofdetermining that the movement operation is the flick operation, thedetermination section 120 further determines whether the edge DT of thedisplay object passes through the edge of the display region 141corresponding to the edge DT of the display object by the movement ofthe display object caused by the flick operation.

In the case where the determination section 120 determines that the edgeDT of the display object passes through the edge of the display region141 corresponding to the edge DT of the display object by the movementof the display object caused by the flick operation, the display controlsection 130 sets a larger deceleration coefficient associated with themovement of the display object than in the case where it is determinedthat the edge DT of the display object does not pass through the edge ofthe display region 141 corresponding to the edge DT of the displayobject by the movement of the display object caused by the flickoperation.

The determination section 120, the display control section 130, theprocessing section 160, and the like are configured from, for example, aCPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and thefunctions thereof are realized by developing in the RAM a program storedin the storage section 150 and executing the developed program by theCPU. However, it is not limited to such a configuration, and the displaycontrol section 130 and the processing section 160 may be configuredfrom a dedicated hardware.

[1-5. Hardware Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus]

FIG. 5 is a hardware configuration diagram of the information processingapparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. Asshown in FIG. 5, the information processing apparatus 100 according tothe embodiment of the present disclosure includes the position detectiondevice 210, a CPU 220, a RAM 230, a display device 240, and anon-volatile memory 250.

The position detection device 210 has a position detection plane, andhas a function of detecting proximity coordinates or contact coordinatesof the operating object OP to the position detection plane. As theposition detection device 210, a capacitive touch panel can be used, forexample. In addition, an optical touch panel can be used as the positiondetection device 210, for example. In addition, a USB (Universal SerialBus) camera can be used as the position detection device 210, forexample.

The CPU 220 functions as an arithmetic processing unit and a controlunit and controls the overall operation inside the informationprocessing apparatus 100 or a portion thereof according to variousprograms recorded in the non-volatile memory 250 or the RAM 230.

The RAM 230 stores a program used by the CPU 220, a parameter thatappropriately changes during execution thereof, and the like.

The display device 240 is configured from a device capable of visuallynotifying the user of information, such as an LCD (Liquid CrystalDisplay) and an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display device. Thedisplay device 240 outputs results obtained by various processesperformed by the information processing apparatus 100. To be specific,the display device 240 displays the results obtained by variousprocesses performed by the information processing apparatus 100 on thedisplay region 141 in text or image form. Further, the display device240 may be provided to the information processing apparatus 100, or maybe provided outside the information processing apparatus 100.

The non-volatile memory 250 is a device for storing data, and includes,for example, a magnetic storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive),a semiconductor storage device, an optical storage device, or amagneto-optical storage device. The non-volatile memory 250 storesprograms executed by the CPU 220 and various kinds of data.

Heretofore, there has been shown an example of the hardwareconfiguration capable of realizing the functions of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure. Each of the structural elements described above may beconfigured using a general-purpose material, or may be configured fromhardware dedicated to the function of each structural element.Accordingly, the hardware configuration to be used can be changed asappropriate according to the technical level at the time of carrying outthe embodiment of the present disclosure.

[1-6. Operation in Case where Flick Operation is Performed]

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation performed by theinformation processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure m the case where the flick operation is performed.Note that, although the example shown in FIG. 6 represents an example inwhich the movement direction is the downward direction, the movementdirection is not particularly limited, and may be the upward direction,the left direction, or the right direction, for example.

As shown in FIG. 6, the determination section 120 determines whether theoperation detected by the detection section 110 is flicking (Step S101).In the case of determining that the operation detected by the detectionsection 110 is not flicking (“No” in Step S101), the determinationsection 120 returns to Step S101. In the case of determining that theoperation detected by the detection section 110 is flicking (“Yes” inStep S101), the determination section 120 determines whether theoperation performed in the immediately preceding processing flowdetected by the detection section 110 was the flick operation (StepS102).

In the case of determining that the operation performed in theimmediately preceding processing flow detected by the detection section110 was also the flick operation (“Yes” in Step S102), the determinationsection 120 determines whether there is the edge DT (upper edge) of thedisplay object within the read-ahead distance (Step S103). In the caseof determining that there is no edge DT (upper edge) of the displayobject within the read-ahead distance (“No” in Step S103), thedetermination section 120 returns to Step S101. In the case where it isdetermined by the determination section 120 that there is edge DT (upperedge) of the display object within the read-ahead distance (“Yes” inStep S103), the display control section 130 calculates a predeterminedparameter such as the above-mentioned deceleration coefficientassociated with the movement of the display object (Step S104), starts aflick process up to the upper edge of the display object (Step S105),and returns to Step S101.

[1-7. Screen Displayed by Operation at Stage in which Edge of DisplayObject Reaches Display Region]

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure in a case where it is determined that the edge DT ofthe display object reaches the display region 141. As described above,when it is determined by the determination section 120 of theinformation processing apparatus 100G that, in the case where a displayobject DB3 is caused to be moved a predetermined distance in themovement direction, the edge DT (for example, upper edge) of the displayobject reaches the display region 141, the display control section 130of an information processing apparatus 100G performs control such that apredetermined first display G (i.e., an image) is shown on the displayregion 141.

Further, in the case where the movement operation performed by theoperating object OP is detected by the detection section 110 when theedge DT of the display object has already reached the display region141, the display control section 130 of an information processingapparatus 100H performs control such that a predetermined second display(i.e., a modified image) H1, H2, which is different from thepredetermined first display G, is shown on the display region 141. Thestate where the edge DT of the display object has already reached thedisplay region 141 represents, for example, a state where the edge DT(upper edge) of the display object has already reached the edge (upperedge) of the display region 141 corresponding to the edge DT (upperedge) of the display object. Further, the movement operation beingreferred to here represents a movement operation in a directioncorresponding to that in which the edge DT of the display object entersinside the display region 141.

In the case where the termination of the movement operation is detectedby the detection section 110, the display control section 130 of aninformation processing apparatus 100I performs control such that thepredetermined second display H1, H2 on the display region 141 is hidden.As for the timing at which the predetermined second display H1, H2 onthe display region 141 is hidden, there are assumed various timings,which will be described below.

[1-8. Disabling Operation at Stage in which Edge of Display ObjectReaches Display Region]

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by a generalinformation processing apparatus in a case where a movement operation isperformed at a stage in which the edge DT of the display object hasalready reached the display region 141. A general information processingapparatus 900A displays a part of the display object DB3 on the displayregion 141, and the edge DT (upper edge) of the display object DB3 hasalready reached the edge (upper edge) of the display region 141. Whenthe movement operation in the downward direction is performed in thisstate, for example, although an information processing apparatus 900Brecognizes the movement operation, the display object DB3 cannot bemoved any farther.

However, unless outputting the fact that the display object DB3 cannotbe moved any farther, it is difficult for the user to grasp the reasonwhy the movement operation in the downward direction is disabled.Accordingly, when the movement operation in a direction corresponding tothat in which the edge of the display object enters inside the displayregion 141 is further performed in the state where the edge of thedisplay object has already reached the edge of the display region, theinformation processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure performs a predetermined second display.

[1-9. Direction of Operation at Stage in which Edge of Display ObjectReaches Display Region]

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a case where the movement operation isperformed at the stage in which the edge DT of the display object hasalready reached the display region 141. The display control section 130of an information processing apparatus 100L displays a part of thedisplay object DB3 on the display region 141, and the edge DT (upperedge) of the display object DB3 has still not reached the edge (upperedge) of the display region 141 at this stage.

The display object DB3 is moved by the movement operation performed bythe operating object OP, and the display control section 130 of aninformation processing apparatus 100M displays a part of the displayobject DB3 on the display region 141, and the edge DT (upper edge) ofthe display object DB3 reaches the edge (upper edge) of the displayregion 141 at this stage. Here, an operation of attempting to move thedisplay object in a direction in which the display object cannot bemoved any farther is referred to as Overdrag and an Overdrag-start pointrepresents a position on the display object that is specified by theoperating object OP at the point of starting the operation.

When the Overdrag is performed by the operating object OP, the displaycontrol section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100N displaysthe display object DB3 on the display region 141 at the same position asthe position at which the display control section 130 of the informationprocessing apparatus 100M displayed the display object DB83 on thedisplay region 141. This is because the display object DB3 cannot bemoved any farther. Here, a position on the display object that isspecified by the operating object OP at the end of the Overdrag isreferred to as operation point.

The display control section 130 of an information processing apparatus100O also displays the display object DB3 on the display region 141 atthe same position as the position at which the display control section130 of the information processing apparatus 100M displayed the displayobject DB3 on the display region 141. In the case of detecting that theoperating object OP is moved away from the position detection plane, thedisplay control section 130 of the information processing apparatus 100Ocan perform control such that the predetermined second display ishidden.

[1-10. Case of Hiding Displayed Predetermined Display]

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a case where the predetermined seconddisplay is shown and a case where the predetermined second display ishidden by the information processing apparatus 100 according to theembodiment of the present disclosure in the case where the movementoperation is performed at the stage in which the edge DT of the displayobject has already reached the display region 141. The display controlsection 130 of an information processing apparatus 100P displays a partof the display object DB3 on the display region 141, and, since the edgeDT (upper edge) of the display object DB3 has already reached the edge(upper edge) of the display region 141 at this stage, performs controlsuch that a predetermined second display J1 is shown on the displayregion 141.

In the case where, while the movement operation is being performed, theoperating object OP is positioned in a range exceeding a predeterminedangle with respect to the movement direction on the basis of theOverdrag-start point detected by the detection section 110, the displaycontrol section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100Q canperform control such that the predetermined second display J1 on thedisplay region 141 is hidden. The case where the operating object OP ispositioned in the range exceeding the predetermined angle with respectto the movement direction on the basis of the Overdrag-start pointdetected by the detection section 110 represents a case where an anglebetween the direction from the Overdrag-start point to the operationpoint and the movement direction exceeds the predetermined angle.

Further, as described above, in the case of detecting that the operatingobject OP is moved away from the position detection plane, the displaycontrol section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100R canperform control such that the predetermined second display is hidden. Inthe case where, while the movement operation is being performed, theoperating object OP is positioned in a range that does not exceed thepredetermined angle with respect to the movement direction on the basisof the Overdrag-start point detected by the detection section 110, thedisplay control section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100Scan perform control such that the predetermined second display J1 isshown on the display region 141.

[1-11. Operation Performed in Case where Drag Operation is Performed]

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation performed by theinformation processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure in a case where a drag operation is performed. Asshown in FIG. 11, the determination section 120 determines whether theoperation detected by the detection section 110 is dragging (Step S201).In the case of determining that the operation detected by the detectionsection 110 is not dragging (“No” in Step S201), the determinationsection 120 determines whether the operation performed in theimmediately preceding processing flow detected by the detection section110 was the Overdrag (Step S203). In the case where the determinationsection 120 determines that the operation performed in the immediatelypreceding processing flow detected by the detection section 110 was notthe Overdrag (“No” in Step S203), the display control section 130returns to Step S201. In the case where the determination section 120determines that the operation performed in the immediately precedingprocessing flow detected by the detection section 110 was the Overdrag(“Yes” in Step S203), the display control section 130 performs controlsuch that Fadeout-drawing, in which the predetermined second display isgradually hidden, is executed (Step S204), and returns to Step S201.

In the case of determining that the operation detected by the detectionsection 110 is dragging (“Yes” in Step S201), the determination section120 determines whether the operation is currently during the Overdrag(Step S202). In the case of determining that the operation is currentlynot during the Overdrag (“No” in Step S202), the determination section120 proceeds to Step S203. In the case of determining that the operationis currently during the Overdrag (“Yes” in Step S202), the determinationsection 120 determines whether the operation performed in theimmediately preceding processing flow detected by the detection section110 was also the Overdrag (Step S205).

In the case of determining that the operation performed in theimmediately preceding processing flow detected by the detection section110 was not the Overdrag (“No” in Step S205), the determination section120 replaces the Overdrag-start point with current coordinates detectedby the detection section 110 (Step S206), and returns to Step S201. Inthe case of determining that the operation performed in the immediatelypreceding processing flow detected by the detection section 110 was theOverdrag (“Yes” in Step S205), the determination section 120 determineswhether the operation point is present within a predetermined range(Step S207). The predetermined range represents the range that does notexceed the predetermined angle with respect to the movement direction onthe basis of the Overdrag-start point.

In the case of determining that the operation point is not presentwithin the predetermined range (“No” in Step S207), the determinationsection 120 proceeds to Step S204. In the case where it is determined bythe determination section 120 that the operation point is present withinthe predetermined range (“Yes” in Step S207), the display controlsection 130 updates Overdrag-drawing (Step S208) and returns to StepS201. The updating of the Overdrag-drawing means that control isperformed such that the predetermined second display is shown.

[1-12. Screen Displayed by Operation at Stage in which Edge of DisplayObject Reaches Display Region]

FIGS. 12 to 32 are each a diagram showing a screen example displayed bythe information processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment ofthe present disclosure in the case where the movement operation isperformed at the stage in which the edge DT of the display object hasalready reached the display region 141. In the case where the movementoperation performed by the operating object OP is not detected by thedetection section 110 when the edge DT of the display object has alreadyreached the display region 141, the display control section 130 of aninformation processing apparatus 100T performs control such that thepredetermined second display that is different from the predeterminedfirst display is not shown on the display region 141 yet.

In the case where the movement operation performed by the operatingobject OP is detected by the detection section 110 when the edge DT ofthe display object has already reached the display region 141, thedisplay control section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100Uperforms control such that the predetermined second display that isdifferent from the predetermined first display is shown on the displayregion 141. In the case where the termination of the movement operationis detected by the detection section 110, the display control section130 of an information processing apparatus 100V can perform control suchthat the predetermined second display on the display region 141 ishidden.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure in the case where the movement operation is performedat the stage in which the edge DT of the display object has alreadyreached the display region 141. In the case where the movement operationperformed by the operating object OP is detected by the detectionsection 110 when the edge DT of the display object has still not reachedthe display region 141, the display control section 130 of aninformation processing apparatus 100X1 performs control such that thepredetermined second display that is different from the predeterminedfirst display is not shown on the display region 141 yet.

In the case where the movement operation performed by the operatingobject OP is detected by the detection section 110 when the edge DT ofthe display object has already reached the display region 141, thedisplay control section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100X2performs control such that the predetermined second display that isdifferent from the predetermined first display is shown on the displayregion 141. In the example shown in FIG. 33, the display control section130 is performing control such that the predetermined second display isshown, by changing the shapes of items which are determined based on theedge DT of the display object and the position of the operating objectOP detected by the detection section 110. The display control section130 can change the shapes of the items which are present between theedge DT of the display object and the position of the operating objectOP detected by the detection section 110, for example.

In the example shown in FIG. 33, the display control section 130 changesthe shapes of the items “Action”, “Adventure”, and “Animation”, whichare present between the edge DT of the display object and the positionof the operating object OP detected by the detection section 110. Thedisplay control section 130 may change the shape of each item bylengthening the item in the movement direction. As shown in FIG. 33, thedisplay control section 130 lengthens each item in the movementdirection such that the lengths of respective items in the movementdirection is changed from B(1), B(2), and B(3) to A(1), A(2), and A(3),respectively.

When an item number determined based on the edge DT of the displayobject and the position of the operating object OP detected by thedetection section 110 is represented by 1, 2, . . . , n, in ascendingorder of distance from the edge DT of the display object, and a movementdistance of the operating object OP in the movement direction in thecase where the movement operation is performed at the stage in which theedge DT of the display object has already reached the display region 141is represented by L, a shape-change amount L(i) of i-th item from theedge DT of the display object is represented as shown in the followingEquation 1, for example.

$\begin{matrix}{{L(i)} = {L \times {\left( {n - i + 1} \right)^{2}/\left( {\sum\limits_{k = 1}^{n}\; k^{2}} \right)}}} & \left( {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1} \right)\end{matrix}$

Further, in the case where the termination of the movement operation isdetected by the detection section 110, the display control section 130of an information processing apparatus 100X3 can perform control suchthat the predetermined second display on the display region 141 ishidden.

[1-13. Screen Displayed by Operation at Stage Before Edge of DisplayObject Reaches Display Region]

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure in the case where the movement operation is performedat a stage before the edge DT of the display object reaches the displayregion 141. In the case where the movement operation performed by theoperating object OP is not detected by the detection section 110 at thestage before the edge DT of the display object reaches the displayregion 141, the display control section 130 of an information processingapparatus 100Y1 performs control such that the predetermined seconddisplay that is different from the predetermined first display is notshown on the display region 141 yet.

In the case where the movement operation performed by the operatingobject OP is detected by the detection section 110 at the stage beforethe edge DT of the display object reaches the display region 141, thedisplay control section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100Y2performs control such that a predetermined third display that isdifferent from the predetermined second display is shown on the displayregion 141. In such a manner, the difference between the following canbe emphasized: the case where the movement operation is performed at thestage in which the edge DT of the display object has already reached thedisplay region 141; and the case where the movement operation isperformed at the stage before the edge DT of the display object reachesthe display region 141. In the example shown in FIG. 34, the displaycontrol section 130 performs control such that the predetermined thirddisplay is shown, by changing the shape of an item which is determinedbased on the position of the operating object OP detected by thedetection section 110, in accordance with velocity v of the operatingobject OP. The display control section 130 can change the shape of theitem, which is present at the position of the operating object OPdetected by the detection section 110, by an amount proportional to thevelocity v of the operating object OP, for example.

In the example shown in FIG. 34, the display control section 130 changesthe shape of the item “Documentary” which is present at the position ofthe operating object OP detected by the detection section 110. Thedisplay control section 130 may change the shape of the item bylengthening the item in the movement direction. As shown in FIG. 34, thedisplay control section 130 lengthens the item in the movement directionsuch that the length of the item in the movement direction is changedfrom B to A.

Further, in the case where the termination of the movement operation isto detected by the detection section 110, the display control section130 of an information processing apparatus 100Y3 can perform controlsuch that the predetermined third display on the display region 141 ishidden.

[1-14. Screen Displayed when Display Object is Small]

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a screen example (when a display object issmall) displayed by the information processing apparatus 100 accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure in the case where themovement operation is performed at the stage in which an edge DT1 of thedisplay object has already reached the display region 141. In the casewhere the movement operation performed by the operating object OP is notdetected by the detection section 110 when the edge DT1 of the displayobject has already reached the display region 141, the display controlsection 130 of an information processing apparatus 100 a 1 performscontrol such that the predetermined second display that is differentfrom the predetermined first display is not shown on the display region141 yet.

In the case where the movement operation performed by the operatingobject OP is detected by the detection section 110 when the edge DT1 ofthe display object has already reached the edge of the display region141 corresponding to the edge DT1 of the display object, the displaycontrol section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100 a 2performs control such that the predetermined second display that isdifferent from the predetermined first display is shown on the displayregion 141. In FIG. 35, there is shown an example in which the length ofa display object DB4 in the movement direction (for example, upwarddirection) is shorter than the length of the display region 141 in themovement direction.

In such a case, as shown in FIG. 35, the display control section 130 ofthe information processing apparatus 100 a 2 performs control such thatthe predetermined second display is shown, by lengthening the displayobject DB4 in the direction from an edge DT2 of the display object tothe edge DT1 of the display object on the basis of the edge DT2 of thedisplay object, which is the edge at the opposite side of the edge DT1of the display object that has reached the display region 141, forexample. In the example shown in FIG. 35, the display control section130 of an information processing apparatus 100 a 2 performs control suchthat the predetermined second display is shown, in a manner that thelength in the movement direction (for example, upward direction) of thedisplay object DB4 of the item “Animation” that is present at theposition of the operating object OP detected by the detection section110 is changed from B(3) to C(3), and that the length in the movementdirection (for example, upward direction) of the display object DB4 of“Adventure” which is present in the upward direction of the item ischanged from B(2) to C(2).

In the case where the termination of the movement operation is detectedby the detection section 110, the display control section 130 of aninformation processing apparatus 100 a 3 can perform control such thatthe predetermined second display on the display region 141 is hidden.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a screen example (when a display object issmall) displayed by the information processing apparatus 100 accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure in the case where themovement operation is performed at the stage in which the edge DT1 ofthe display object has already reached the display region 141. In thecase where the movement operation performed by the operating object OPis not detected by the detection section 110 when the edge DT1 of thedisplay object has already reached the display region 141, the displaycontrol section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100 b 1performs control such that the predetermined second display that isdifferent from the predetermined first display is not shown on thedisplay region 141 yet.

In the case where the movement operation performed by the operatingobject OP is detected by the detection section 110 when the edge DT1 ofthe display object has already reached the edge of the display region141 corresponding to the edge DT1 of the display object, the displaycontrol section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100 b 2performs control such that the predetermined second display that isdifferent from the predetermined first display is shown on the displayregion 141. In FIG. 36, there is shown an example in which the length ofthe display object DB4 in the movement direction (for example, downwarddirection) is shorter than the length of the display region 141 in themovement direction.

In such a case, as shown in FIG. 36, the display control section 130 ofthe information processing apparatus 100 b 2 performs control such thatthe predetermined second display is shown, by lengthening the displayobject DB4 in the direction from the edge DT1 of the display object tothe edge DT2 of the display object on the basis of the edge DT1 of thedisplay object which has reached the edge of the display region 141, forexample. In the example shown in FIG. 36, the display control section130 of the information processing apparatus 100 b 2 performs controlsuch that the predetermined second display is shown, in a manner thatthe length in the movement direction (for example, downward direction)of the display object DB4 of the item “Action” that is present at theposition of the operating object OP detected by the detection section110 is changed from B(1) to D(1), and that the length in the movementdirection (for example, downward direction) of the display object DB4 of“Adventure” which is present in the downward direction of the item ischanged from B(2) to D(2).

In the case where the termination of the movement operation is detectedby the detection section 110, the display control section 130 of aninformation processing apparatus 100 b 3 can perform control such thatthe predetermined second display on the display region 141 is hidden.

[1-15. Screen Displayed by Operation Before Edge of Display ObjectReaches Display Region and after Edge of Display Object Reached DisplayRegion]

FIGS. 37 and 38 are each a diagram showing a screen example displayed bythe information processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment ofthe present disclosure, obtained by performing the movement operationbefore the edge DT1 of the display object reaches the display region 141and after the edge DT1 of the display object reached the display region141. While the edge DT1 of the display object does not reach displayregion 141, the display control section 130 of an information processingapparatus 100 c 1 performs control such that the predetermined seconddisplay that is different from the predetermined first display is notshown on the display region 141 yet.

When the movement operation performed by the operating object OP isdetected by the detection section 110, the display control section 130of an information processing apparatus 100 c 2 performs control suchthat the predetermined second display that is different from thepredetermined first display is not shown on the display region 141 yet,until the edge DT1 of the display object reaches the display region 141.

In the case where the movement operation performed by the operatingobject OP is detected by the detection section 110 when the edge DT1 ofthe display object has already reached the edge of the display region141 corresponding to the edge DT1 of the display object, the displaycontrol section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100 c 3performs control such that the predetermined second display that isdifferent from the predetermined first display is shown on the displayregion 141. In the example shown in FIG. 37, the display control section130 of the information processing apparatus 100 c 3 performs the controlsuch that the predetermined second display is shown, by changing theshapes of items which are determined based on the edge DT1 of thedisplay object and the position of the operating object OP detected bythe detection section 110.

In the example shown in FIG. 37, the display control section 130 of theinformation processing apparatus 100 c 3 changes the shapes of the items“Action” and “Adventure” by lengthening the items in the movementdirection. When an elongation amount of an display object DB5 (total ofelongation amounts of respective items) is represented by M, and amovement distance of the operating object OP in the movement directionin the case where the movement operation is performed at the stage inwhich the edge DT1 of the display object has already reached the displayregion 141 is represented by L, the display control section 130 of theinformation processing apparatus 100 c 3 can lengthen the display objectDB5 based on M, which is determined as shown in the following Equation2, for example.M=β×L  (Equation 2)

Here, β represents a constant value, the value thereof is notparticularly limited, and may be 3/10(=0.3), for example.

Further, it is assumed that M changes based on the change in L, theremay be set an upper limit M_(max) for M. When the length of the displayregion 141 in the movement direction is represented by N, the displaycontrol section 130 of the information processing apparatus 100 c 3 canlengthen the display object DB5, using M_(max), which is determined asshown in the following Equation 3, as the upper limit of the elongationamount of the display object DB5.M _(max) =α×N  (Equation 3)

Here, α represents a constant value, the value thereof is notparticularly limited, and may be ⅓, for example.

As shown in FIG. 38, in the case where a movement operation (forexample, upward direction), which is a direction opposite to anelongation direction, is detected, the display control section 130 of aninformation processing apparatus 100 c 4 can perform control such thatthe elongation of the display object DB5 is cancelled, thereby hidingthe predetermined second display on the display region 141. In theexample shown in FIG. 38, every time a movement operation in thedirection (for example, upward direction) which cancels the elongationis detected, the display control section 130 of the informationprocessing apparatus 100 c 4 cancels the elongation of the displayobject DB5 for the movement distance based on the movement operation.

In the example shown in FIG. 38, the display control section 130 of theinformation processing apparatus 100 c 3 lengthens the display objectDB5 in the 16 elongation direction (for example, downward direction) forthe length corresponding to M. Therefore, every time the movementoperation in the direction opposite to the elongation direction isdetected, the display control section 130 of the information processingapparatus 100 c 4 can cancel the elongation for the movement distancebased on the movement operation, until the elongation amount of thedisplay object DB5 becomes zero.

In the case where the movement operation in the direction (for example,upward direction), which is a direction opposite to the elongationdirection, is detected after the elongation amount of the display objectDB5 became zero, the display control section 130 of an informationprocessing apparatus 100 c 5 can move the display object DB5 in thedirection opposite to the elongation direction for the movement distancebased on the movement operation.

[1-16. Screen Displayed by Operation after Edge of Display ObjectReached Display Region]

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure, obtained by performing the movement operation afterthe edge DT1 of the display object reached the display region 141. Asshown in FIG. 39, in the same manner as in the case shown in FIG. 38,the display control section 130 of the information processing apparatus100 c 3 performs control such that the predetermined second display isshown, by changing the shape of an item which is determined based on theedge DT1 of the display object and the position of the operating objectOP detected by the detection section 110.

The display control section 130 of an information processing apparatus100 c 6 can lengthen the display object DB5 based on M, which isdetermined as shown in the above Equation 2, for example. However, inthe case where the upper limit M_(max) is set for M, the display controlsection 130 of the information processing apparatus 100 c 6 cannotlengthen the display object DB5 in excess of M_(max), which isdetermined as shown in the above Equation 3.

Accordingly, in the case where the elongation amount M of the displayobject DB5 reaches a predetermined amount (for example, M_(max)), thedisplay control section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100 c7 may perform automatic reduction of the display object DB5. That is, inthe case where the elongation amount M of the display object DB5 reachesthe predetermined amount (for example, M_(max)), the display controlsection 130 of the information processing apparatus 100 c 7 may performcontrol such that the elongation of the display object DB5 is cancelled(may perform control such that the elongation amount M of the displayobject DB5 is brought back to zero).

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a screen example displayed by theinformation processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of thepresent disclosure, obtained by performing the movement operation afterthe edge DT1 of the display object reached the display region 141. Asshown in FIG. 40, in the same manner as in the case shown in FIG. 38,the display control section 130 of the information processing apparatus100 c 3 performs control such that the predetermined second display isshown, by changing the shape of an item which is determined based on theedge DT1 of the display object and the position of the operating objectOP detected by the detection section 110.

Subsequently, let us assume that the detection section 110 of aninformation processing apparatus 100 c 8 detects the termination of themovement operation. In that case, the display control section 130 of theinformation processing apparatus 100 c 7 may perform automatic reductionof the display object DB5. That is, in the case where the detectionsection 110 detects the termination of the movement operation, thedisplay control section 130 of the information processing apparatus 100c 7 may perform control such that the elongation of the display objectDB5 is cancelled (may perform control such that the elongation amount Mof the display object DB5 is brought back to zero).

It is assumed that there are various techniques for the display controlsection 130 to perform the automatic reduction of the display objectDB5. For example, when V(t) represents a length of the display objectDB5 at time t, V_(END) represents a terminal value of the length of thedisplay object DB5, V_(START) represents an initial value of the lengthof the display object DB5, t_(DURATION) represents time required for theautomatic reduction, and γ represents an attenuation parameter, thedisplay control section 130 can reduce the length of the display objectDB5 based on V(t), which is determined as shown in the followingEquation 4.V(t)=(V _(END) −V _(START))×(1.0−(1.0−t/t _(DURATION))^(2×γ))+V_(START)  (Equation 4)

[1-17. Another Example of Case where Edge of Display Object ReachesDisplay Region at End of Flick]

FIGS. 41 to 43 are each a diagram illustrating another example of theoperation of the information processing apparatus 100 according to theembodiment of the present disclosure in the case where the edge of thedisplay object reaches the display region at the end of the flick. Asshown in FIG. 41, an information processing apparatus 100W1 causes apart of the display object DB3 to be displayed on the display region141. When the flick operation in the upward direction is performed bythe operating object OP in this state, it is assumed that the followingcorresponds to a region DR3 (i.e., a portion of the display object DB3)that is displayed on the display region 141 at the end of the flickoperation in theory: a region within the display object DB3 obtained byproceeding the distance corresponding to the intensity of the flickoperation from the region displayed on the display region 141, in thedownward direction of the display object DB3.

As shown in FIG. 41, at the end of the flick, although the displaycontrol section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100W2attempts to cause the region DR3 to be displayed on the display region141, which is to be displayed on the display region 141 at the end ofthe flick in theory, the display control section 130 of the informationprocessing apparatus 100W2 cannot cause the region DR3 to be displayed,because the edge DT (lower edge) of the display object DB3 passesthrough the edge (lower edge) of the display region 141. Thedetermination on whether the edge DT (lower edge) of the display objectDB3 passes through the edge (lower edge) of the display region 141 isperformed by the determination section 120 as described above.

In the case where the determination section 120 determines that the edgeDT of the display object passes through the edge of the display region141 corresponding to the edge DT of the display object by the movementof the display object DB3 caused by the flick operation, the displaycontrol section 130 of the information processing apparatus 100W2 cancause a part or all of the display object DB3 to be lengthened after theedge DT of the display object DB3 reached the edge of the display region141 corresponding to the edge DT of the display object DB3. The displaycontrol section 130 of the information processing apparatus 100W2 maycause the lengthened display object DB3 to be displayed on the displayregion 141, for example. In FIG. 41, there is shown an example in whichthe display control section 130 of the information processing apparatus100W2 performs control such that the item “Thriller”, which is thenearest item from the edge DT (lower edge) of the display object DB3, islengthened, and the lengthened display object DB3 is displayed on thedisplay region 141.

After the elapse of a predetermined time period from the control ofdisplaying the lengthened display object DB3 on the display region 141,the display control section 130 of an information processing apparatus100W3 may perform control such that, as shown in FIG. 42, the displayobject DB3 whose elongation is cancelled is displayed on the displayregion 141. In FIG. 42, there is shown an example in which the displaycontrol section 130 of the information processing apparatus 100W3performs control such that the display object DB3 in which theelongation of the item “Thriller” is cancelled is displayed on thedisplay region 141, after the elapse of the predetermined time period.

As shown in FIG. 42, an information processing apparatus 100W4 causes apart of the display object DB3 to be displayed on the display region141. When the flick operation in the downward direction is performed bythe operating object OP in this state, it is assumed that the followingcorresponds to a region DR4 that is displayed on the display region 141at the end of the flick operation in theory: a region within the displayobject DB3 obtained by proceeding the distance corresponding to theintensity of the flick operation from the region displayed on thedisplay region 141, in the upward direction of the display object DB3.

As shown in FIG. 43, at the end of the flick, although the displaycontrol section 130 of an information processing apparatus 100W5attempts to cause the region DR4 to be displayed on the display region141, which is to be displayed on the display region 141 at the end ofthe flick in theory, the display control section 130 of the informationprocessing apparatus 100W5 cannot cause the region DR4 to be displayed,because the edge DT (upper edge) of the display object DB3 reaches theedge (upper edge) of the display region 141. In this case, the displaycontrol section 130 of the information processing apparatus 100W5 maycause the lengthened display object DB3 to be displayed on the displayregion 141, for example. In FIG. 43, there is shown an example in whichthe display control section 130 of the information processing apparatus100W5 performs control such that “Action”, which is the nearest itemfrom the edge DT (upper edge) of the display object DB3, “Adventure”,which is the second nearest item, and “Animation”, which is the thirdnearest item, are lengthened, and the lengthened display object DB3 isdisplayed on the display region 141.

Note that the number of items to be lengthened by the display controlsection 130 is not particularly limited. For example, the displaycontrol section 130 may not lengthen the item based on the velocity ofthe flick operation, but may lengthen in the same amount each of apredetermined number of items counted from the nearest item from theedge DT of the display object DB3, or may lengthen the items such thatthe nearer the item is from the edge DT of the display object DB3, thelarger the extent to which the item is lengthened. Further, for example,the display control section 130 may lengthen in the same amount theitems counted from the nearest item from the edge DT of the displayobject DB3, or may lengthen the items such that the nearer the item isfrom the edge DT of the display object DB3, the larger the extent towhich the item is lengthened, the number of items being determined inaccordance with the velocity of the flick operation.

After the elapse of a predetermined time period from the control ofdisplaying the lengthened display object DB3 on the display region 141,the display control section 130 of an information processing apparatus100W6 may perform control such that, as shown in FIG. 43, the displayobject DB3 whose elongation is cancelled is displayed on the displayregion 141. In FIG. 43, there is shown an example in which the displaycontrol section 130 of the information processing apparatus 100W6performs control such that the display object DB3 in which theelongation of the items “Action”, “Adventure”, and “Animation” iscancelled is displayed on the display region 141, after the elapse of apredetermined time period.

[1-18. Operation in Case where Drag Operation (in X- and Y-AxisDirections) is Performed]

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing a flow of an operation (when the displayobject can be moved in the X-axis direction and in the Y-axis direction)performed by the information processing apparatus according to theembodiment in the case where the drag operation is performed. As shownin FIG. 44, the determination section 120 determines whether theoperation detected by the detection section 110 is dragging (Step S301).In the case of determining that the operation detected by the detectionsection 110 is not dragging (“No” in Step S301), the determinationsection 120 determines whether the operation performed in theimmediately preceding processing flow detected by the detection section110 was the Overdrag (Step S302). In the case where the determinationsection 120 determines that the operation performed in the immediatelypreceding processing flow detected by the detection section 110 was notthe Overdrag (“No” in Step S302), the display control section 130returns to Step S301. In the case where the determination section 120determines that the operation performed in the immediately precedingprocessing flow detected by the detection section 110 was the Overdrag(“Yes” in Step S302), the display control section 130 performs controlsuch that Fadeout-drawing, in which the predetermined second display isgradually hidden, is executed (Step S303), and returns to Step S301.

In the case of determining that the operation detected by the detectionsection 110 is dragging (“Yes” in Step S301), the determination section120 determines whether the operation is currently during the Overdrag inthe X-direction (Step S304). In the case of determining that theoperation is currently not during the Overdrag in the X-direction (“No”in Step S304), the determination section 120 determines whether theoperation is currently during the Overdrag in the Y-direction (StepS312). In the case of determining that the operation is currently notduring the Overdrag in the Y-direction (“No” in Step S312), thedetermination section 120 proceeds to Step S302.

In the case of determining that the operation is currently during theOverdrag in the Y-direction (“Yes” in Step S312), the determinationsection 120 determines whether the operation performed in theimmediately preceding processing flow was also the Overdrag in theY-direction (Step S313). In the case of determining that the operationperformed in the immediately preceding processing flow was also theOverdrag in the Y-direction (“Yes” in Step S313), the determinationsection 120 determines whether the operation is currently during theOverdrag in the X-direction (Step S315). In the case of determining thatthe operation performed in the immediately preceding processing flow wasnot the Overdrag in the Y-direction (“No” in Step S313), thedetermination section 120 replaces the Overdrag-start point in theY-direction with a current Y coordinate detected by the detectionsection 110 (Step S314), and proceeds to Step S315.

The determination section 120 determines whether the operation iscurrently during the Overdrag in the X-direction (Step S315). In thecase of determining that the operation is currently not during theOverdrag in the X-direction (“No” in Step S315), the determinationsection 120 updates Overdrag-drawing in the Y-direction (Step S318) andreturns to Step S301. The updating of the Overdrag-drawing in theY-direction means that control is performed such that the predeterminedsecond display is shown in the Y-direction.

In the case of determining that the operation is currently during theOverdrag in the X-direction (“Yes” in Step S315), the determinationsection 120 determines whether the operation performed in theimmediately preceding processing flow was also the Overdrag in theX-direction (Step S316). In the case of determining that the operationperformed in the immediately preceding processing flow was also theOverdrag in the X-direction (“Yes” in Step S316), the determinationsection 120 updates Overdrag-drawing in the XY-directions (Step S311)and returns to Step S301. The updating of the Overdrag-drawing in theXY-directions means that control is performed such that thepredetermined second display is shown in the XY-directions.

In the case of determining that the operation performed in theimmediately preceding processing flow was not the Overdrag in theX-direction (“No” in Step S316), the determination section 120 replacesthe Overdrag-start point in the X-direction with a current X coordinatedetected by the detection section 110 (Step S317), and proceeds to StepS311. In the case of determining that the operation is currently duringthe Overdrag in the X-direction (“Yes” in Step S304), the determinationsection 120 carries out processing in the X-direction in the same manneras in the case of “Yes” in Step S312.

<2. Modified Example>

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

For example, although it is shown in the present embodiment that theinformation processing apparatus 100 performs the predetermined firstdisplay, the predetermined second display, and the predetermined thirddisplay, it is not necessary that the information processing apparatus100 perform all the predetermined first display, the predeterminedsecond display, and the predetermined third display. For example, atleast one of the predetermined first display, the predetermined seconddisplay, and the predetermined third display may be performed, or anytwo of the predetermined first display, the predetermined seconddisplay, and the predetermined third display may be performed.

<3. Summary>

According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible tograsp, in the stage in which the operation of moving the display objectis performed, how far the display object can be moved. According to theembodiment of the present disclosure, in the case where the movementoperation is performed at the stage in which an edge of the displayobject has already reached the display region, it is possible to notifythe user that the display object cannot be scrolled any farther.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a display; a touchpanel; a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable mediumencoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, causethe apparatus to: display, in a region of the display, a portion of ascrollable display object including a plurality of respective items anda separator line for separating the plurality of respective items;detect a movement operation in which an operating object moves at leastpartially in a first direction along the touch panel while in contactwith the touch panel; determine, during the movement operation, whetheran edge of the display object has reached the region of the display;when, during the movement operation, the edge of the display object hasnot reached the region, scroll the display object in the first directionwithin the region; when, during the movement operation, the edge of thedisplay object has reached the region, refrain from moving the edge ofthe display object in the first direction; detect, during the movementoperation, an overdrag operation in which the operating object moves atleast partially in the first direction at a time after the edge of thedisplay object has reached the region of the display; and in response todetecting the overdrag operation and before the operating objectreleases contact with the touch panel, display, under control of theoperating object, a graphic element in the region of the display,wherein the graphic element comprises a curved shape and a degree ofcurvature of the curved shape is updated on the basis of an extent ofthe overdrag operation.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a directionof the separator line is orthogonal to the first direction of theoverdrag operation.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecomputer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which,when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: monitora characteristic of the detected movement of the operating object duringthe movement operation; and modify at least one feature of the graphicelement during the movement operation based on changes to the monitoredcharacteristic.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the monitoredcharacteristic of the detected movement comprises a distance traveled bythe operating object along the touch panel.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4,wherein the at least one modified feature of the graphic elementcomprises a shape of the graphic element.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the at least one modified feature of the graphic element furthercomprises a size of the graphic element.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the instructions that cause the apparatus to display the graphicelement in the region comprise additional instructions which, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display the graphicelement in an orientation that depends on a direction of the overdragoperation.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-readablemedium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed bythe processor, further cause the apparatus to: modify a shape of thegraphic element based on an extent of the overdrag operation.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein the computer-readable medium is encodedwith additional instructions which, when executed by the processor,further cause the apparatus to: modify a size of the graphic elementbased on the extent of the overdrag operation.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the instructions that cause the apparatus to displaythe graphic element in the region comprise additional instruction which,when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: orient thecurved shape in the region in a direction corresponding to a directionof the overdrag operation.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thegraphic element further comprises a flat edge located opposite to thecurved shape, and the instructions that cause the apparatus to displaythe graphic element in the region comprise additional instruction which,when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display thegraphic element in the region so that the curved shape is oriented in adirection of the overdrag operation.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the graphic element comprises a shaded area.
 13. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded withadditional instructions which, when executed by the processor, furthercause the apparatus to: identify an end of the movement operation; andcease displaying the graphic element in the region in response toidentifying the end of the movement operation.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to ceasedisplaying the graphic element include instructions that, when executedby the processor, cause the graphic element to gradually fade out fromthe region.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-readablemedium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed bythe processor, further cause the apparatus to: display, under control ofthe operating object and in response to detecting the overdrag operationand before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel,the graphic element in the region that at least partially overlays atleast one item of the plurality of items, the at least one item beinglocated adjacent the edge.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thegraphic element at least partially overlays the separator line.
 17. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium for use with an apparatusincluding a display, a touch panel, and a processor, wherein thecomputer-readable medium is encoded with instructions which, whenexecuted by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display, in a regionof the display, a portion of a scrollable display object including aplurality of respective items and a separator line for separating theplurality of respective items; detect a movement operation in which anoperating object moves at least partially in a first direction along thetouch panel while in contact with the touch panel; determine, during themovement operation, whether an edge of the display object has reachedthe region of the display; when, during the movement operation, the edgeof the display object has not reached the region, scroll the displayobject in the first direction within the region; when, during themovement operation, the edge of the display object has reached theregion, refrain from moving the edge of the display object in the firstdirection; detect, during the movement operation, an overdrag operationin which the operating object moves at least partially in the firstdirection at a time after the edge of the display object has reached theregion of the display; and in response to detecting the overdragoperation and before the operating object releases contact with thetouch panel, display, under control of the operating object, a graphicelement in the region of the display, wherein the graphic elementcomprises a curved shape and a degree of curvature of the curved shapeis updated on the basis of an extent of the overdrag operation.
 18. Amethod for operating an apparatus including a display and a touch panel,the method comprising: displaying, in a region of the display, a portionof a scrollable display object including a plurality of respective itemsand a separator line for separating the plurality of respective items;detecting a movement operation in which an operating object moves atleast partially in a first direction along the touch panel while incontact with the touch panel; in response to a first portion of themovement operation, scrolling the display object in the first directionwithin the region of the display; determining that an edge of thedisplay object reaches the region during the movement operation;detecting, during a second portion of the movement operation, anoverdrag operation in which the operating object moves at leastpartially in the first direction at a time after the edge of the displayobject has reached the region of the display; refraining from moving theedge of the display object in the first direction in response to thesecond portion of the movement operation; and in response to detectingthe overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contactwith the touch panel, displaying, under control of the operating object,a graphic element in the region of the display, wherein the graphicelement comprises a curved shape and a degree of curvature of the curvedshape is updated on the basis of an extent of the overdrag operation.